LoveThineEnemy

by Virginia Cavanaugh

  “Then what would you have me do?”

  Tears burned at the corner of her eyes. How could this be happening? It was so unfair. Finding her mate was supposed to be a beautiful thing. How could she ask her pack to accept him? After what had happened, how in the hell was she supposed to think they’d be okay with this? And it would have to be her pack, because there was no way in hell she would go with him to Arik.

  She pushed back her emotions, not wanting him to see her weakness. “Let me go.”

  His facial expression turned to one of horror, but he quickly masked it. “Never.”

  She gripped the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger, her gaze moving to the ground as a sigh burst through her lips. “This will never work.”

  “How do you know it won’t? You haven’t even given it a chance. Fate brought us together.”

  Her gaze snapped back to his. “Fate? All fate did was screw us both.”

  “We can make it work.”

  “I don’t even know your name.”

  “Shadeau.”

  Such an odd name, but appropriate all the same. For that is what their mate bond had been cast in from the very beginning.

  He spoke softly. “What is your name, mate?”

  “Jasmine.”

  “Jasmine,” he whispered.

  Her name on his lips made her lower belly tingle with excitement. How easy it would be to let him take her. She had a feeling it would be wild and raw. Claws and teeth. The sexy man in front of her oozed masculinity. Her lower lips grew wet just thinking about the way he would control her.

  He closed his eyes and let loose a moan. “Sweetness. Your scent is driving me crazy. Please.”

  She sobered. “I need to go.”

  Quickly, she stepped toward the stall door. She managed to push it open, but found herself lifted off her feet before she could even step out. “What the hell?”

  She fought against his hold, but he squeezed her tighter, her back flush against his chest.

  “You’re not going anywhere.”

  Jasmine angled her head to look up at him. “Oh really? What makes you think I’m not?”

  “Because I won’t allow it.”

  “Allow it? I sure as hell don’t remember asking for your permission.” She blew at wayward strands of hair that covered her face as she continued to struggle. “Let me go. I don’t want to be forced to hurt you.”

  He laughed.

  Oh if that didn’t piss her off. She kicked hard at his shin and brought her elbow back into his stomach. A small grunt sounded from behind her, but he held her firm.

  “Jasmine, stop.”

  “No. I won’t stop. Every time I get a chance I’m going to try to run so you might as well let me go now.”

  “Am I so bad, Jasmine?”

  Something inside her heart constricted at the sound of his wounded words. He wasn’t. It was the circumstance that was. Or at least she hoped he wasn’t. “You’re holding me against my will.”

  “For your safety. You don’t understand. Arik has a sick plan and there is no way in hell I’m letting him get to you.”

  Her struggles ceased. “What kind of plan?” Talking to him suddenly seemed like it might be a useful thing to do.

  “Sit down. Eat something. I’ll explain.”

  One meal. She could do one meal. Besides it would be good to know what Arik’s plans were. At least she could take away something useful from her situation. “Okay.”

  Slowly Shadeau released his hold. Her feet touched the ground and she turned as she took a step back, putting space between them. “I’m listening.”

  He gestured to the blanket on the ground. “Sit.”

  She rolled her eyes but complied. “I’m sitting.”

  He bent over to rummage through a couple baskets she hadn’t noticed before. Yep. He stole the stuff. The store logo was emblazoned on the sides of the plastic baskets. Her gaze moved to his ass. What a wonderful view of muscular perfection.

  He turned and smiled. Busted. Her cheeks heated as she darted her gaze to what was in his hands. So she’d looked at his ass. He’d probably ogled her goodies before he dressed her.

  She lifted one brow as she focused on what he held, pushing away her embarrassment. “Beanee Weenees and juice pouches.”

  He grinned. “Let it never be said that I didn’t wine and dine you.”

  A laugh burst out of her mouth. He chuckled with her. Wow. His face seemed to light up. If he turned on the charm it would make it ten times harder for her to leave. She cleared her throat as a lump of emotion threatened to clog it. “So tell me about this horrid plan your alpha has?”

  Shadeau sat down in front of her and handed her a plastic spoon then popped the top of his can. “He’s no longer my alpha.”

  This shocked her. “You broke the tie?” He must be more dominant than she’d thought.

  “Yes. I know that puts us in an even bigger mess. I have nothing. But I swear to you, I’ll make sure you’re provided for.”

  She shook her head slightly. They’d have to talk about his means of appropriating things later. “I’m not worried about that right now. I’m more concerned about the whys.”

  He looked away, taking interest in his food. She didn’t want to rush him, but the suspense was killing her. She ate a few bites then took a drink. When he still didn’t speak, she couldn’t contain her curiosity anymore. “So, this plan?”

  His gaze moved back to her. “Please understand that I really didn’t like this idea in the first place, but things were so different after Arik attacked our pack. My old alpha Torin was a complete ass. He kept us looking to him for handouts. But before Torin, I’d been a lone wolf for so long, that the company of others was better than being alone. Then Arik came in. I didn’t even fight. Most of us didn’t. Torin didn’t exactly breed loyalty.

  “The things Arik gave us from the start were so much more than Torin had ever supplied.”

  Jasmine nodded. “I can see how it’d be shocking.”

  “Well, then we got our assignment. Apparently Arik’s right-hand man and cousin Ivan wanted his wife back.”

  “That would be ex-wife. Julie left him a while ago,” Jasmine corrected. Julie had in fact been working in a bar with another wolf named Tyra for a good amount of time before she’d met Jasmine’s alpha Luken. And Ivan was an ass. No way in hell Julie would ever go back to him. Besides, Jasmine and the rest of her pack could look at Luken and Julie and tell they were in love, even if the mate bond hadn’t yet appeared for them.

  “Yeah, well, Ivan still saw her as his. But Arik wasn’t willing to take the risk of going after her just so Ivan would be happy. So Ivan came down here to scout out the packs in the area. Another wolf with Arik, one that didn’t come from my original pack, told Arik about our female’s heat cycles. Arik wants to breed an army.”

  Oh no. Jasmine shook her head in denial. “You were there to kidnap women?”

  Shadeau looked at the ground.

  Nausea churned in her belly. “How in the hell could you go along with something like that?”

  “I told you, I wasn’t big on the idea.”

  Jasmine shot to her feet. “Not big on the idea? I can’t believe this.”

  Shadeau stood. “Have you never had to do something you disagreed with because your alpha ordered it?”

  “Hell no. My alpha isn’t a piece of shit who would ask something like that of me. Nor the one before him.” Her old alpha Konrad shared the same values and structure as Luken. They’d all been together before the split. A split that had to be made, because Luken had become an alpha in his own right and two alphas couldn’t coexist.

  “You don’t know how lucky you are then.”

  “So were you just going to give me over like some piece of trash to be raped?”

  “No! Never. That’s why I broke the tie. That’s why we’re hiding here. Once I found you, I just couldn’t blindly follow anymore. And I’ll be damned if I let Arik hurt you.”

/>   She threw her hands up in the air. “And what about those from my pack and the other packs? What about those women your buddies took? We were in contact with the other packs in the area. We know you attacked all of us at once.”

  He strode over to the side of the stall, and banged his head lightly against the wooden wall. “I don’t know.”

  Jasmine pulled in a few shaky breaths. She could tell his conscience was eating at him. But she had to find a way to get through to him. Seeing him like this made her hurt inside but it also gave her hope. He wasn’t all bad. She’d fought with him pretty much since she’d awoken. Maybe it was time to try another tactic.

  She closed the distance between them and placed her hand on the center of his back. “We have to do something, Shadeau. We can’t let Arik hurt them like that.”

  He remained still. She moved her hand up his back then across to his shoulder. The hard muscles beneath her palm stiffened as he sucked in a breath. His scent hung heavy in the air. She swallowed hard, feeling her body responding to his nearness. Her mate. She’d waited what seemed like forever to find him. Why did things have to be so difficult?

  Shadeau turned slowly toward her as her fingers trailed up his neck. When her palm touched his cheek he turned his face into her touch. His soft, warm lips kissed her inner wrist. Her nerve endings came alive, eager for more of his touch.

  Neither of them spoke as a sensual haze enveloped them. Her breasts felt heavy, and her sex tingled, aching for stimulus. She moved in closer. Slowly his hands went to her hips. Jasmine’s gaze landed on his mouth. She wanted to know what it would be like to kiss him.

  He was hers. Yes, they were pitted against each other in this war that had broken out, but it didn’t change what they were to each other. Meeting her mate was supposed to be magical. Instead it had been steeped in death and sorrow. But for one moment, she wanted it to be different. She knew it was selfish, but for this space in time, she wanted it to be about him and her.

  Her gaze moved to his. “Shadeau?” she whispered.

  His hand came up to cup the side of her face. “You’re so beautiful.”

  Chapter Three

  Jasmine leaned into his hard body. “Kiss me.”

  His lips touched hers in a featherlight caress. She parted her lips on a sigh and he swooped in. The kiss quickly turned hot, his tongue stroking hers with expert finesse. She moaned into his mouth as his hand moved from her cheek to the nape of her neck, hand fisting in her hair.

  She clawed at his powerful shoulders as his other hand gripped her ass, pulling their lower bodies flush against each other. Her lower lips grew wet in anticipation. His cock, thick and large, prodded her lower belly.

  For this moment she wanted to enjoy him. Her destined mate. There problems could very well drive them apart, but for now they were here, together. And his kiss felt better than anything she’d ever experienced. His touch was even more awesome.

  Her arms circled his neck and she pressed her aching breasts against his chest. A low growl rumbled, the vibration of it teasing her nipples. He pulled on her hair, lips tearing from hers as he bent her back. His teeth descended to her neck, nipping at her flesh.

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  His hand came away from her bottom and landed on her breast, kneading the soft mound gently. She whimpered, bowing her back into his touch. Sensation coursed from her nipple down her abdomen and pulsated in her pussy. He touched her the way she wanted to be touched. Tweaked her nipple with just the right amount of force to have her sinking her claws in him.

  “So sexy,” he growled.

  She swiveled her hips against him, her needy cunt wanting attention. He released a sexy laugh then ran the tip of his tongue up her neck.

  “Slow down, sweetness. I plan on enjoying every inch of your body.”

  “Ahhh. Could you enjoy it a litter faster. I ache.”

  He nipped her lower lip. “I can smell your sweet honey. I plan to lick it from you until you scream in pleasure.”

  She moaned, leaning forward to capture his mouth in another kiss. And damn he could kiss. The flicks of his tongue were like a demand. No way would she be allowed to not participate. And boy did she want to participate. Willingly, she let him plunder her mouth as his fingers worked magic on her breast. He squeezed her ass and she ground her pelvis against him.

  He turned them, her back coming up against the wooden siding. She jumped, wrapping her legs around him, bringing his big cock up against the seam of her pussy. She pulled her lips from his. “Yes. That’s what I want.”

  He pushed against her, the pressure sending sensation to dance through her clit. His teeth nipped at the front of her shirt. It was the only hint she needed. She reached down for the hem and pulled the shirt over her head. Before she could toss it, his lips sealed over her nipple, sucking the delicate bud into his mouth. He pulled back and lavished some attention on the other breast.

  His cock moved against her and she could feel the tension inside her building. She’d never come before from being dry humped, but damn if it didn’t look to be going there. Digging her heels into his beefy ass, she rocked against him. He released her nipple with a snarl and nipped at the tip.

  “Demanding female.”

  It was her turn to laugh as she nipped at his full lower lip. “I like getting my way.”

  He pressed hard into her, smashing her hips between him and the wood. “I’m going to like reining you in.”

  A quiver of desire shot through her with that thought. She wouldn’t make it easy for him, but the thought of submitting to him did wicked things to her insides. Before she could speak, howls broke through the still night air.

  She tensed as did Shadeau. She listened to them, recognizing the pitch. “Luken.”

  Her gaze went to Shadeau’s. He frowned.

  “They’re looking for me.” The need to answer her alpha burned, making it a struggle not to pitch her head back and answer his call.

  “No.”

  She blinked, shocked at his one-word response. “No?”

  He released her bottom, letting her thighs slide down the outside of his. Her feet touched the dirt and it took a second to get her shaky legs to cooperate.

  “I’m not letting you go.”

  “You’re not letting me?” Fuck it. His dominance might be a turn-on during sexual acts, but it really sucked at regular times. “And what’s to stop me from answering his call? You going to go all caveman on me again and knock me out? Maybe you have a few more of your tranq darts you can shoot my ass with? You so love using them on unsuspecting women.”

  He lashed out and punched the wood behind her. She jumped.

  “Don’t ever say that again,” he snarled. “I hate the fact I was a part of that. I don’t want you to look at me and think about that. Give me a chance to make your opinion different.”

  She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, at least physically. Emotionally was a whole other can of worms. He had the capacity to cripple her in that way. She sighed. “I need to answer him.”

  Shadeau stepped back away from her. “Then you’ll be choosing them over me. If they come here for you, they will kill me. And I won’t fight them. I would never want to hurt you.”

  “That’s not fair!” She couldn’t believe he was playing this card.

  He shrugged. “You know I’m telling the truth. I hurt members of your pack today. Seriously wounded some of them, and took you. If you think for one minute acceptance is something I will get from your pack, then you’re wrong.”

  “Damn it!” She reached out, planting both palms against his chest, pushing him back, then bent down and snatched her discarded shirt from the ground. He was right. It would take some serious talking to Luken to get him not to kill Shadeau for his crimes.

  It was so much easier to fight with him when he was being the caveman. She jerked her shirt on and pulled the length of her hair through the neck hole. Anger replaced the desire she’d felt only minutes before. She stomped over to the blanke
t and sat down, avoiding him completely.

  “Jasmine, please don’t be angry with me.”

  She shot him a glare then focused on her can of food she’d left sitting there. She didn’t even taste the concoction as it glided over her tongue. Hell, she wasn’t even hungry, but she didn’t want to speak to him right now.

  He sat down beside her. “Give me time. I’ll prove to you I’m worthy of your loyalty.”

  She slammed the empty can down. “How can you ask this of me? You want me to give up everything. My pack. And yes, the bond makes me want to cling to you, but I don’t even know you.”

  “So get to know me. We were doing pretty good before your alpha started howling.”

  “Pfft. That’s called sex. Not getting to know each other.”

  “No. That’s not called sex, sweetness. If we’d had sex, my balls wouldn’t be aching so damn bad right now.”

  Her head whipped in his direction. “Really? So sorry you have blue balls. Please note the sarcasm.” She rolled her eyes and looked forward. As if she needed a lesson in what constituted as sex. Hell, her own privates were aching from denial.

  Part of her wanted to march from the barn and tip her head back, howl her grief and frustration and answer her alpha. She wanted to go home. But she couldn’t leave Shadeau. Not like this. Damn it! Why couldn’t she have her cake and eat it too?

  Tears made her vision swim. It was unfair. Fate had dealt her a crap hand and it was so un-fucking-fair. She didn’t fight him when he picked her up and sat her in his lap.

  She didn’t want to cry. With a back swipe of her hand she brushed the few tears away. She was stronger than this.

  “We’ll find a way to make it work, Jasmine.”

  “It would be one thing if it were only us. But it’s not. I have to tell Luken about Arik’s plan.” She turned to meet his gaze. “I need to go to him. I can explain—”

  “No.”

  She ground her teeth in frustration. “You’re being a stubborn fool.” Not waiting for a reply she slid off his lap and curled on her side facing away from him. She was done arguing.